There is not one magic number which represents normal blood pressure. Very
often doctors and other experts cannot even come to a consensus on an
ideal blood pressure range for an adult. However it is normall accepted
that somewhere between 110/70 and 125/80 is considered to be an average
blood pressure reading for an adult. Though someone with
naturally-occuring low blood pressure may be more in the range of 100/60.
A blood pressure reading of 140/90 is considered high. Though as a person
ages, this falls into the more normal range for people.
Blood does
not circulate in an even stream throughout the body. Instead, it moves
about in a repeated series of spurts. Therefore, the result is that
pressure peaks in the blood vessels just following a heart beat and then
ebbs while waiting for the next one. This process occurs continually.
The
two blood pressure numbers indicate the pressures when the forces are at
their peak and at their lowest ebb. The more vigorous the arteries are,
the more they resist the blood's force and, therefore, the lower the blood
pressure reading. As a person ages it is normal to suffer a weakening in
the elasticity of the arteries. Therefore, the figures tend to rise.
However, the lower reading number should still not exceed 90 until that
person is at least sixty years of age.
Many studies looking at
blood pressure in both caucasian and black people have found there is a
higher prevalence of hypertension (High blood pressure) in black people.
This has resulted in further research to determine whether this is a
result of racial differences or simply related to dietary and
socioeconomic factors.
Some people afflicted with high blood
pressure may find it impossible to determine a the cause. They may be fit
with a very healthy lifestyle yet their blood pressure continues to be
inexplicably high. The name for this is Primary or essential high blood
pressure. However, if elevated blood pressure is a result of an underlying
medical condition, the name for that is Secondary High Blood Pressure.
Nearly
twenty-five percent of people in the Western world have high blood
pressure. Many people don’t appreciate the danger of a condition that, if
left untreated, can lead to a kidney failure, heart attack, or stroke. In
fact, there are great numbers of people unaware of their high blood
pressure and are walking around as if with a lethal time bomb counting
down the time inside of them.
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